Research Writing Guide

Eleven-Week Quarter 

Due by the end of Week 2

1. Understand the assignment. Choose an approved topic, selected for the content of the course.

     More information is available at: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/readassign.html

2. Select and focus on the topic.

     More information is available at: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/ResearchW/topic.html

Due by the end of Week 3

1. Refine your topic.

     More information is available at: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/ResearchW/topic.html

2. Design a writing strategy, such as description, narration, example, process, comparison/contrast, argument, classification/division, cause/effect, or demonstration. (Maybe don’t need to list all the strategies if we could find a good link.)
3. Decide on a research strategy and keep careful notes with sources clearly indicated.

     More information is available at: http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pub/integrity/pages/habits.html

4. Conduct a general Web search.
5. Find, review and evaluate books, journal, magazine, and newspaper articles.
6. Keep careful notes with courses clearly indicated.
7. Create an introductory paragraph with an introductory sentence that identifies the subject and includes an attention getter to capture the reader’s interest.

     More information is available at: http://unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/introductions.html

8. Write the thesis statement to express the main point of the paper.  Place the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph.

     More information is available at: http://unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html

Due by the end of Week 5

1. Introduce all main ideas in the introductory paragraph.  Write the first draft of the paper.

     More information is available at: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/ResearchW/1draft.html

2. Use APA style for format, citations, title page, abstract and references page.

     More information is available at: APA Styleweb

     More information is available at: FAC Writing Module - Appendix A 

Due by the end of Week 8

1. Be sure the main ideas support the thesis presented in the introduction.
2. Include a clear topic sentence in each paragraph that expresses the central idea of that paragraph.
3. Create paragraphs of appropriate length throughout the paper.

     More information is available at: http://unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/paragraphs.html

     More information is available at: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/01

4. Be sure all main ideas are developed and presented in the body paragraphs to produce unity.
5. Make your paragraph lead the reader logically from one section to another, and use transition to make connections between ideas easier to follow.
6. Find supporting details for each main point.
7. Base the entire paper on logical assumptions and focus on the main ideas.
8. Include a sentence in the concluding paragraph that restates the thesis or summarizes the main points.

     More information is available at: http://unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/conclusions.html

9. Edit your paper to be free from grammar, punctuation and syntax errors.

     More information is available at: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/01

10. Use appropriate punctuation and spelling throughout the paper.
11. Use appropriate syntax in the paper; no fragments or run-on sentences.
12. Use print or electronic books, research journals, periodicals, and electronic database references.  Select no more than one non-juried/non-refereed Internet site (a site that contains material that has not undergone professional peer review).  Use APA style throughout the search paper with appropriate in-text citations and reference page.
13. In an argumentative research paper, choose a problem or issue that allows for differences of opinion.  Cleary state this difference.

     More information is available at: http://unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/argument.html

     More information is available at: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/01

• State the position taken in the paper.  Offer proof to support that your position is reasonable.

• Anticipate objections to the position and address these objections.  Restate the position.

• Use two or more methods of development in the research paper: description, narration, example, process, comparison/contrast, classification/division, cause/effect, or demonstration.

Due by the end of the Week 9

1. Be sure that your paper shows multiple revisions with improved focus and clear writing for a general audience.

Refer to the Essay/Research paper Scoring Guide to understand how your writing is evaluated:

     More information is available at: NAU Essay-Research Paper Criteria

The APA Research Paper Suggested Deadlines 2007-08 Checklist could be of helpful to you:

     More information is available at: NAU Research Paper Checklist